EPILOGUE

Brook watched as his wife chased their younger son around the park beside her childhood home. Surrounded by her sisters and mother, Diana was always aglow with delight. Of course, the glow could also be due to the fact that their third child was due in a few months. For her confinement, she and Brook would adjourn to the countryside in Sussex so that she and their young ones could be with family. It also gave Brook a chance to catch up on his own estate business.

And over the past four years, they’d spent a good amount of time in the country, since Diana was everything her name implied: fertile. Of course, Brook didn’t exactly slack in that department either, so it was only natural. As he watched his wife smile and tickle their son, Brook wondered if he could have ever imagined such happiness as he felt in those precious moments. From the Devil’s Bachelor to the patriarch of quite the proper English family, it was an unexpected change but one for which he was eternally thankful.

Lord Walker had suffered an apoplexy a few months after their disagreement, and all the litigation that had tied up the Caribbean estate was dismissed. Brook had taken ownership of the property, and then proceeded to purchase pieces of Walker’s estate, making good on his promise not so long ago. But rather than feeling resentment, Brook found it was a delightful thing to have such a large heritage for his own children to inherit.

Things had changed over the past four years, but one thing hadn’t: his love for his wife.

As if sensing his attention on her, Diana glanced over to him and smiled. Patting their son on the head, she turned to come to where Brook watched. “Enjoying your day?” she asked, lacing her hand through his.

“Every moment,” he replied, kissing her nose. “Are you tired?”

“Not enough to stop,” she replied. “Are you ready to go home?”

“If that means I can have my own time to play with you, then yes,” Brook whispered with a devilish grin.

Diana glanced heavenward as if pleading for help, then grinned as she leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Haven’t given up your wicked ways yet, hmm?”

“Never,” Brook replied, grinning unrepentantly.

“Good. See that you never do,” Diana stated. “Give me five minutes.” She winked, then slipped her hand away as she headed toward the house.

As Brook studied the house and Diana disappeared inside to say goodbye to her family, he thought back to the day he took a chance and made her an offer.

He had thought he knew what he was doing, but now it was certain that he hadn’t a clue.

And he was thankful, because sometimes when you think you need something, you find out you were wrong.

And fate gives you what you actually need.

And he’d never needed anything more than he needed Diana.

Which turned out to be very convenient indeed.